In 2016, the Region of Peel is changing to cart-based, bi-weekly waste collection. All residents who have curbside pick up need to choose the cart sizes that suit their household by March 31, 2015.

The Region will be hosting an open house on Wednesday, February 11 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm at the Malton Community Centre. Drop by to learn more about the program, ask questions and see the carts to help determine what size works best for you.

The 2015 City of Mississauga Designated Heritage Property Grant Program is Open

Grants will help property owners with repair, restoration and conservation costs associated with their designated heritage properties

Designated heritage property owners in Mississauga are eligible to apply for grant funding to help with the restoration, conservation and repair to their property as designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Matching grants from $500 to $5,000 are available for general conservation and from $500 to $10,000 for the repair or restoration of structural elements.

“Mississauga has a wide range of heritage properties, each telling its own story,” said Paul Damaso, acting director, Culture Division. “Properties from the early 19-20th century collectively reflect a cultural history that defines Mississauga. These grants allow the City to partner with successful applicants to preserve these historical gems.”

How to Apply

Details, eligibility criteria and the online application are available through the Heritage Planning website at mississauga.ca/heritageplanning. Applications are due March 31, 2015 by 4:30 p.m. All grant requests will be subject to review.

Based on the success of the City’s “ActiveAssist” Fee Assistance Program, Mississauga City Council approved expanding access to allow 2,500 more low-income households to register and participate.

“ActiveAssist” provides eligible low-income households a fee credit of $275 per person per year. The credit can be applied to activities such as swimming, skating, fitness and summer camps.

“The City’s goal is to provide equal access to our recreation programs to those in financial need regardless of age,” said Acting Director of Recreation Laura Piette. “The program ensures more children, youth, families, adults and older adults have the benefit of recreation and the opportunity to experience a better quality of life.”

Piette explained eligibility for the ‘ActiveAssist’ program is based on economic need. “According to Low-Income Cut Offs (LICO) established by Statistics Canada, individuals and families whose financial circumstances make them unable to pay for recreation programs and services offered by the City are eligible,” said Piette. “At this time, more than 42,000 residents have been approved to access the program with 80 per cent benefitting children and youth in our community.”

Since the program was launched in May 2009 capacity has increased from 2,500 to 12,500 spaces to accommodate the number of qualified applicants in the next year.

Piette added that facilities are successfully absorbing “ActiveAssist” participants into existing programs without requiring additional resources or incurring costs and the ongoing program is expected to have no impact on the City’s budget. “’ActiveAssist” has proven to be a cost-effective and innovative approach to engaging residents of all ages in positive, high quality leisure activities.”

Highlights of the “Active Assist” program:

More than 42,000 residents have been approved to access the program

80 per cent of participants are children and youth, three per cent are older adults

During five years of the program, 63 per cent of all subsidies are used for registered programs and 37 per cent are used to purchase memberships and visits

Malton Community Centre has the highest Active Assist program participation

In fall 2014, the program was expended to provide access for Children in Care (Peel Children’s Aid Society)

Participants have one year from the date of activation to use their fee credit. Applications for “ActiveAssist” may be made in person at any City of Mississauga Community Centre or the Customer Service Centre located at Mississauga Central Library, Ground Floor. A specific appointment time is not necessary however, may be arranged in advance by phoning the applicable location. For more information and a complete listing of all recreation programs, visit mississauga.ca/activeassist. For more information about “ActiveAssist,” call 905-615-4100.

Today, Council approved changes to Mississauga’s Leash-Free Zones to keep them safe for users.

Anyone walking more than four dogs at one time, up to a limit of eight dogs, in one of Mississauga’s Leash-Free Zones will need to apply for a permit from the City of Mississauga. This permit must be visible while using any Mississauga Leash-Free Zones.

The Dog Walker Permit Fee will be $250, with a $50 charge, for each additional dog walker. The new Dog Walker Permit Fee in the City’s Parks & Forestry Fees and Charges By-law will take effect this Spring.

Leash-Free Mississauga (LFM) will also work with the City to provide better education to Leash-Free Zone users to help ensure that children, parents and dog owners use the areas in a safe manner.

Mississauga businesses and residents are invited to attend a public drop-in session to learn about the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games that will take place in Mississauga. Learn about:

the transportation plans and

general information for the games.

The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games Organizing Committee is the host of the session. Representatives from the organizing committee, the Ministry of Transportation, the Integrated Security Unit and the City of Mississauga will be there to answer questions.

Space is limited. Groups are encouraged to send one or two representatives.

If you have any accessibility requirements or if you cannot attend and have specific concerns, please send an email to residentinfo@toronto2015.org.

About the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

This summer, Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe region will host the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. This will be the largest international multi-sport event ever hosted in Canada. The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games take place from July 10 to 26, 2015 and the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games from August 7 to 15, 2015. The Games will welcome more than 10,000 athletes and officials from 41 countries as well as tourists, media and members of the Games family.

The City of Mississauga is one of 14 communities outside of Toronto that will host events in both the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. The Hershey Centre will be known during Games time as the Mississauga Sports Centre where Mississauga will host seven sport competitions: judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, goalball, powerlifting and wheelchair rugby. To help keep athletes, spectators, business owners and residents moving safely and efficiently during the Games, the City will implement some temporary traffic measures.

Peel Public Health is monitoring increased measles activity across Ontario and is following up with all Peel residents known to have been exposed to measles.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is advising individuals who attended the “Acquire the Fire” event, a mass gathering of youth that was held in Toronto at Queensway Cathedral on February 6 and 7, 2015 of potential measles exposure that may have occurred at the event.

Peel residents who attended this event and who were born in or after 1970 are requested to review their immunization status to ensure they are protected against measles. If they have not been adequately immunized, they are requested to immediately self-isolate by staying at home and contact Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 (Caledon residents call free of charge 905-584-2216) for important additional guidance. They should not attend any public gatherings and should not attend school, work, daycare or any post-secondary institutions until they are cleared of measles risk.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that is spread through the air from person to person. It causes fever, rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Complications can occur in up to 30 per cent of cases and include ear infections, pneumonia, seizures and encephalitis. It very rarely causes death.

The risk of measles to the general public is low; however, given that measles is highly contagious, it is very important that all Ontarians ensure their measles immunization is up-to-date. All Ontarians, regardless of date of birth, are eligible for two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine.

Individuals considered adequately immunized or protected from measles:

− Persons born before 1970 – presumed most people in this age group would have acquired natural immunity to measles.

− Adults 18 years of age and older and born in 1970 or later (who are NOT health care workers, students in post-secondary educational setting, or in the military) AND who have received one dose of MMR vaccine.

− Children 12 months to 17 years of age who have received two doses of MMR vaccine.

Two doses of MMR vaccine are particularly recommended for:

− Health care workers

− Military personnel

− Young adults (18-25 years of age)

− Post-secondary students

− Persons who received killed vaccine previously (born between 1967 and 1970)

− Those planning to travel internationally (including travel within North America)

Children receive two doses of measles-containing vaccine routinely, with the first dose given after 12 months and the second between 4-6 years of age.

If you think that you or a family member has measles, be sure to call ahead to let the health care provider know that you are coming and tell them that you think you may have measles.

In the coming weeks, Council will be meeting regularly to map out the City’s 2015 budget.

You can get more information about where the City gets its revenue and how its spent on the Budget Highlights website. Then use the Budget Allocator Tool to let the City know how you would assign the funds to: Fire & Emergency, Traffic, Roads & Transportation, Parks & Forestry, Libraries, Facilities, and Recreation.